Update: Blaze Extinguished at Grand Avenue Home

A Grand Avenue resident rushed from work after learning a second-floor fire broke out in the bi-level home she shared with two relatives and several family pets.

No injuries were reported in the blaze that caused severe structural damage to the second floor of a bi-level between Lexington and Hadley avenues, said Fire Chief Sam Seaman. Two occupants at home at the time of the blaze exited safely.

However, the homeowners suffered the loss of several pets. Two birds died in the fire, and one of two cats was missing for about an hour before being found and returned to the third family member of the downtown Toms River home, officials said. A fifth pet, a ferret, is safe.

In the general alarm fire, the six Toms River fire companies plus a unit from Island Heights responded to the blaze at 4:54 p.m., Seaman said. Toms River Fire Co. No. 1 Chief Jeff Cirz arrived to find flames visible from the second floor after a neighbor saw the blaze and called 911 at 4:50. The fire was contained by 5:08 p.m.

Firefighters entered through the front door and worked their way up the stairs, down a hallway and into a bedroom, Seaman said.

"They went in with one hose line to the room of origin," Seaman said. The bedroom, hallway, adjacent bedroom and pull-down attic were all destroyed, and the fire damaged the soffit and some siding and roofing of the home.

For the hour after the flames were extinguished, firefighters used ladders to locate any remaining hotspots on the soffit and window frame while more crews worked inside the bedroom.

Toms River Police assisted the family, wrapping up the house's American flag and flagpole and presenting it to the residents and offering assistance as pets were located and temporary shelter could be ascertained for the residents.

Units were on scene through 6:30 p.m. as firefighters worked to overhaul the structure.

This breaking news report was updated at 5:30 and 11:30 p.m.